Attachment for telephone transmitters



F. SUTHERLAND. ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE TRANSMITTERS. v APPL ICATJON man AUG-3. 1921.

1,428,305. I Patentedsept. 5, 1922.

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Jilin VVi'tnedSe; y In vn for Fred 5a Z'herna/ Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED! STATES 1,428,305 PATENT OFFICE.

FRED "SI'I'IVHE'RLANIJ; or CHICAGO, rumors.-

ATTACHIITENT FOR TELEPHONE TRANSMITTERS.

Application filed August 3, 1921. Serial 110.4%,437.

To all whom/it may concern Be it known that I, FRED SUTHERLAND, a citize'nof the United States, anda resident of thecit'y' of Chicago, countyot Cook, and

State :oflllinois, have invented certain new i offices at the receiving end of thelineyentering the-transmitterand rendering hearing difiic'ult, while at the same timefnot interferingwith-theordinary use'of the instrument. V I

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consistsin the combinations and arrangementsof parts I hereinafter described and claimed. v

The invention will be'best understood by reference -to the accompanying drawings forming a part'ot this specification, and in which, l Fig.1 isa front 'elevation of a telephone showing the device applied to the transmitter thereof, V

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig." 1, showing the invention in its normallyxin'operative positionin full lines, and in operative position in dotted lines,

Fig; 8 is a sectional view on-the line 33, Fig. 2, and

' Fig. 4 is a sectionalview' on the line 1,

Fig. 52.

It is well known th'atit is ordinarily very ditficulttohear well over a telephone in a location where there: is a greatdeal ofnoise, due'tothe' fact that sound waves thus set up pass into the transmitter of the telephone and are communicated to the receiver through the telephone casing or otherwise. Itis also well-known that if the transmitter is closed with the hand, the voice speaking becomes much more clear and distinct. It-is, however, often inconvenient to use the handfor closing the transmitter, it being frequently necessary to have the use of one hand for writing down messages, etc., the other hand, of course; beingwocc'upied in holding the receiver t0}: the ear. Myi invention providesa devicewhich is adapted to be attached to a telephone transmitter in such a manner that it will not interfere with the ordinary use of the instrument, but which can be operated by slight pressure 01": the chin or cheek thereon to close the trans mitter while receiving a message to prevent extraneous sounds confusing and rendering indistinct the speech of the person at the other end of the line. i

My invention broadly consists of a closure member mounted in the transmitter of a telephone and normally held in inoperative position in order not to interfere with the ordinary use of the instrument. hen it is desired to close the transmitter to exclude extraneous sounds therefrom, slight pressure with the chin or check of theuser will move the closure member to operative position and effectively close said transmitter.

In carrying out my invention 1 preferably employ a base plate 1 of such size and shape as to fit within a telephone transmitter. Such plate 1 preferably has apertures therein corresponding to the apertures ordinarily provided in transmitters, and is fastened in position by'means of small bolts 2 passing through the apertures and secured by means of nuts 3. In this connection it may be remarked that obstruction of some of the apertures ordinarily provided in telephone transmitter's in no way detracts from the ef- .liciency of the instrument in transmission of speech; since it is known that a smaller number of aperturesthan ordinarilyprovided will producesatisfactory results:

Mounted on the plate 1 is a post twhich extends to a point outside of the transmitter and has a reduced portion 5 at its endwhich is preferably 'exteriorly threaded. Slidably mounted on the-post 4 isa sleeve 6 which carries on its inner end a plug 7 of any desuch-recess, when thedevice is in inoperative posit-ion, cushioning the sound waves deificc'ted by the base plate 1, and preventing setting up of clashing waves and consequent buzzing and other objectionable noises.

'Seated on the shoulders of the post 4 formed by the reduced portion 5 is a washer 9, of rubber or any desirable material, which formsa stop for limiting the outward move ment of the sleeve 6. A nut 1O threaded on the reduced portion 5 holds thewasher 9 in position. An enpansible spring 11 is nmuutcd on the reduced portion 5 and has one end abutting against the washer 9, the other end ot such spring en iging the inner faces oi a cap which is thr aded onto the outer end of the sleeve 6 as SllOW'i'l in lhe spring 11 thus normally holds 6 and plug 7 awa; irom the plate sides of the transmitter, and consequent e of sound waves into the tr Qter. 'hen it is de to close the transmitter in order to lude sound tl'ieretrom, a sli ht pressure rted on the cap 19. will force the plug between the converging walls of the trans mitter and thus efl ectually close same. ll hen released the plug will resume its normal inoperative position due to the pressure exerted by the spring ill on the cap 12 and the sleeve 6.

Thus it will. be seen that when using; a telephone in a noisy office, or in any situation where there is a great deal of noise, the transmitter can be closed by a slight pressure on the device with the cheek or chin oi the user, in order to improve the clearness and distinetness of the voice in the receiver, and at the same time to leave one hand free for writing, which is im portant in business oilices.

The device can be manufactured cheaply and economically, is very simple in construction and operation, and has great practical importance.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form oi construction for carrv inp; my invention into ettert, this is capable of variation and modification without drparting trom the spirit ot the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such VZUTlQlTlO IS and modifications as come within the scope ot the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what l the sleeve 1 and the claim as new and. desire to secure by Tletters Patent, i

1. The combination of a telephone traus mitter, and an elastic member smaller than the interior of said transmitter adapted to be thrust against the bottom of said transmitter to spread same so as to till the space between the walls thereof and guide means in said transmitter slidably carrying d elastic member, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a telephone transmitter, and an elastic member smaller than the interior of said transmitter having a concaved abutting face adapted to be thrust against the bottom of said transmitter to spread same so as to fill the space between the walls oft said transmitter; and guide means in said transmitter slidably carrying; said elastic member, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a telephone transn'iitter, a closure arranged to be thrust into the mouth oi said transmitter to exclude sound therefrom; a guide mounted in said transmitter; and means for slidably mounting said closure on said guide, substantially s described.

l. in combination with a telephone translnitter, a closure arranged to be thrust into the mouth of said transmitter a guide mounted in said trzmsn'iitter; means for slidably mounting said plug on said guide whereby same may be used to block said transmitter to exclude sound therefrom; and means for normally holding said plug, in inoperative position, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a telephone transmitter, a guide member secured thereon; a sleeve slidably mounted on said guide memher; a closure member mounted on said sleeve; and resilient means for normally retaining said sleeve in inoperative position, substai'itially as described.

6. In combination with a telephone transmitter, a guide; a sleeve having one end closed slidably mounted on said guide; a stop on said guide; and resilient means disposed between said guide and the closed end of? said sleeve for normally retaining said sleeve in retracted position, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a telephone transmitter a supporting member; a sleeve mounted on said supporting member and having a plug secured to the end thereof; a chamber in said plug; and means for holding said plug in inoperative position, substantially as described.

S. In eoml'iination with a telephone transmitter a. supporting member; a sleeve slidably mounted on said supporting member; a cap engaging the outer end oi said sleeve; means on the opposite end of said sleeve for closing said transmitter: and resilient means mounted between said cap and said simporting member for normally retaining said closing" means in inoperative position, substantially as described.

9. In combination with a telephone trans mitter a. supporting member; a sleeve slidably mounted on said supporting member; means on said sleeve for closing; said transmitter; a stop onsaid supporting means for limiting the sliding movement of the sleeve thereon; a cap engaging said sleeve and movable therewith; and resilient means mounted on said supporting member and engaging said cap to normally retain said closing means in inoperative position, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a telephone transmitter a supporting member; a sleeve slidably mounted on said supporting member and having means for closing the transmitter; a reduced portion on said supportlng member; a stop mounted on said reduced portion; a nut mounted on said reduced portion to hold said stop in position; and resilient means for retaining said sleeve against said stop, substantially as described.

11.111 combination with a telephone transmitter a base plate; apertures in said base plate coinciding With the apertures in the transmitter; bolts passing through said apertures to fasten said base plate in position; a post mountedon said base plate; means mounted on said post for closing said transmitter; and means for normally retaining said closing means in inoperative position, substantially as described.

12. In combination With a telephone transmitter a base plate adapted to fit in the transmitter; a post mounted on said plate and projecting to a point outside of said transmitter; a sleeve slida-bly mounted on said post; a plug mounted on the inner end of said sleeve; a reduced portion on said post having exterior threads thereon; a washer mounted on said reduced portion to serve as a stop for-said sleeve; a nut on said reduced portion to retain said Washer in position; an eXpansible spring mounted on said reduced portion; and a cap mount-ed on said sleeve and engaging said spring to retain said plug in inoperative position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRED SUTHERLAND.

Witnesses:

Joanna R. H. Porrs, CLARENCE E. THREEDY. 

